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Mirtazapine withdrawal & insomnia

Posted , 5 users are following.

louise74854
louise74854

Hi all, I was put on Mirtazapine 30mg in January this year... I was put up slowly just given the whole 30mg and wasn’t able to budge... I was in a Mother Baby Unit for PTSD, Depression & Anxiety they also used to give me benzos at my request but I was already so drowsy 2 weeks of being a zombie and the 30mg didn’t help with my insomnia at all, after I was discharged I went to my Dr and I said I can’t handle this fatigue my body wants to sleep 15 hours a day minimum - she suggested coming off it in 3 days so I halved a tablet and got brain zaps immediately. Went back and told her and she said to slowly taper even though I was only on it 6-7 weeks in total... Anyway my taper was very slow and I took my last dose last Tuesday the first 2 days were fine and I was happy, able to go get my haircut which is a huge deal with most people that suffer anxiety so you now what I mean! I felt pretty good on 7.5mg & 3.75mg started exercising and felt generally happy... Well now my anxiety is back not as bad as it was but my mind is obsessing over my heart and the rate, how it feels, oh god did it just miss a beat... You get my drift... I’m trying so hard to fight it because I know I’m fine even though I feel like anxious brain is now convincing rational brain otherwise... This insomnia, anxiety & nausea is debilitating... I’m also experiencing weird brain stuff... only way to explain it is if I lay down and close my eyes my mind goes blank & my hearing goes only to come back suddenly it’s horrendous... Or it feels like my mind is pulling itself apart with thought... I woke up 3 times last night and was unable to stop thinking... How long will this last? 

Should I go back to 3.75mg?

I’m also experiencing tingling, pins & needles and feelings of getting a flu which might be from lack of sleep. 

I’m terrified of Drs now because I feel they just ignore me, they send my anxiety through the roof. I wanted to get Melatonin but you can’t get it in Australia without a script... Stupid I know! Please help xx

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Rish000
    Rish000 louise74854

    Posted

    Sorry to hear about that. Could you please tell me the last dose of Mirtazapine?
    • louise74854
      louise74854 sarah24378

      Posted

      I did taper slowly from March onwards, was it too fast? I’m only sleeping 4-5 hours a night I have a 10 month old & this isn’t good.

    • sarah24378
      sarah24378 louise74854

      Posted

      I would reinstate at 3.75 get stable again then ask your gp for liquid and taper off that more slowely. I too had pnd so i feel your pain. My son is 2.
  • lloyd_28589
    lloyd_28589 louise74854

    Posted

    Hi Louise , ive been on Mirtazipine for some 7yrs and bout 5mths ago i went from 60mgs to 30mg without any insomnia but i did get some pins and needles and i also felt like i have the flu. Unfortunately i was also taking Zyprexa 15mg Wafers for some 5yrs and i reduced this down over over a 7-8wk period so now im into my 7th wk of Withdrawals from Zyprexa. As mentioned earlier i didnt suffer any Insomnia from reducing Mirtazapine but i certainly do suffer Insomnia from Withdrawals of Zyprexa . My Dr gave me a script to get some Melatonin Slow Release tablets and after 3wks im starting to get some reasonable sleep 4-6 hrs better than none. I also noticed that the Chemist at the Shopping Centre near me sell Melatonin over the counter. They were cheaper than script but had to take 2-3tablets as aposed to only 1 tablet on script. See if your Chemist can get them in for you ?? Take care an best wishes. . Lloyd from Oz
    • louise74854
      louise74854 lloyd_28589

      Posted

      Hi Lloyd, 

      Thank you so much for your response. The melatonin you saw in the shops is it proper melatonin or the homeopathic form?

    • lloyd_28589
      lloyd_28589 louise74854

      Posted

      Hi Louise, I'll check out the Melatonin whever its homeopathic or not tomorrow when i go to the shops. Take care an hope things inprove for you. Lloyd from W.Oz

    • louise74854
      louise74854 lloyd_28589

      Posted

      Thank you, I ended up drinking a herbal tea from the Fremantle markets last night and it does definitely make you incredibly drowsy but I think after so long with no sleep & so long taking the Mirtazapine my body no longer knows how to fall asleep on it’s own.

    • lloyd_28589
      lloyd_28589 louise74854

      Posted

      Hi Louise, im sorry to say the Melatonin over the counter at Chemist is a Homeopathic tablets an the Pharmacist told me that they pretty much useless compared to prescribed one.. i see you've had some herbal tea.. glad its helping you. Best wishes Lloyd in Oz

    • louise74854
      louise74854 lloyd_28589

      Posted

      Hi Lloyd, very sweet of you to follow through with that! I had a feeling it might be, I’ll go to the Drs. Do you know if you can take them alongside antidepressants? Maybe I could try using them alongside the Mirtazapine and it might help me come off.
    • lloyd_28589
      lloyd_28589 louise74854

      Posted

      Hi Louise , im pretty sure you'll be able to take Melatonin with Antidepressants .. im taking 30mg of Mirtazapine so shouldn't be a issue for you. My Dr recommend me to take it bout 1-2hrs before bed. Ive been taking my tablet round 8.30pm. Im on Circadin (Melatonin) 2mg Prolonged Release Tablets. (30 tabs per packet) i hope you get sum relief asap. Take care an hava great Mums day Sunday

  • eve30540
    eve30540 louise74854

    Posted

    Sorry you have had no success with Mirtazapine. I take 15mg and sleep really well. Higher dose was terrible. Congratulations on getting your hair cut. I can't do that yet.

    • louise74854
      louise74854 eve30540

      Posted

      I took your advice but at 1am lol 😂 I tried with a herbal tea first and boy did it make me drowsy! 

      I slept. Thank goodness. I’ll need to reinstate a small dose I think xx

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